We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Dragonkin who descended to the plains.
“…And that is the entirety of the incident that occurred in Paradise.”
After returning to the royal capital with the clergy who had been dispatched to Paradise, I recounted the whole story to the King and my family.
“Hmm. The cohabitation of dragonkin and the activities of spirits, along with the machinations of those with malicious intentions. I had asked for an investigation and resolution of the abnormal phenomena, but I never expected it to be such a deep-rooted problem.”
The King, as the ruler of the country, took the three incidents that occurred in Paradise seriously.
Therefore, he also listened to my proposal for the establishment of a temple with an open mind.
“As a nation, we had been discussing building a city in that area and advancing the eastern development with it as a base. However, it seems we cannot proceed with development solely for the convenience of us humans. In contrast, Elnea-kun’s proposal might be interesting.”
I believe the idea of establishing a temple in Paradise is a clever plan that combines various factors.
By not attracting too many tourists to Paradise, we can inevitably avoid conflicts with the dragonkin.
The spirits will continue to play around and cause various phenomena and disturbances, but I think it will be good training for the clergy who live in the temple!
While the problems caused by the spirits are certainly a nuisance, they do not escalate to killing. Therefore, the clergy who are targeted by the spirits’ pranks must patiently solve the problems, but there is no need to worry about their lives.
While their safety is ensured, they can experience hardships and trials that are impossible to encounter in human life.
Isn’t it a perfect place for the training of clergy?
Furthermore, it is undeniable that it will be a beneficial place for the country.
Friel eagerly volunteered to handle the issue of the dragonkin inhabiting Paradise. However, this is not a problem that must be solely pushed onto Friel.
By actively involving the Dragon Knight Order, there is a possibility that our relationship with the dragonkin will deepen even further.
Perhaps, depending on future activities, the dragonkin of Paradise might even join the Dragon Knight Order.
“A proposal that is not only beneficial to the country but also benefits the clergy. It’s a typical idea for Elnea-kun. I am grateful.”
“Elnea-sama, you are truly amazing!”
The King nodded with satisfaction at my earnest explanation.
Then, Lyra, more than me who was delighted that the proposal was accepted, jumped up happily. And she hugged me tightly.
“I’ll let Lyra have her way in front of His Majesty.”
“In front of His Majesty, I’ll let Lyra do as she pleases.”
“Sob, if I weren’t on sacred duty, I would be hugging Elnea-kun too.”
“Madrine, restrain yourself.”
“Madrine, be considerate.”
“Muki! I don’t want to be told that by you twins!”
I chimed in, “Madrine, you shouldn’t throw a tantrum when you’re on sacred duty,” and everyone burst into laughter.
“Then, regarding the future of Paradise, we will proceed with Elnea-kun’s plan. Madrine, we will handle the temple’s design and personnel mobilization here.”
“I am grateful for His Majesty’s consideration. Then, the temple will procure the funds.”
I tilted my head slightly in doubt at the exchange between the King and Madrine.
“Hey, hey, Madrine-sama. Shouldn’t we also ask the country for financial assistance?”
“Fufufu, Elnea-kun. If we do that, the country’s influence over the temple will grow stronger, and we cannot concede on crucial matters. However, since it concerns the country’s image, we will entrust them with the design and the arrangement of carpenters.”
“I see! So, when you rebuilt the Great Shrine of the Armēdo Kingdom, you also solicited donations!?”
“Yes, without a doubt. To build such a magnificent Great Shrine, a lot of offerings must have been necessary. The grandeur of the Great Shrine is a testament to the faith of the people of the Armēdo Kingdom.”
“Hahaha…”
“Elnea, judging by your reaction, you didn’t know?”
“Mistral, what are you talking about!?”
“Elnea-kun, you can’t be like that.”
“Luiseine, what do you mean?”
“Since you don’t seem to have noticed, I’ll tell you. The one who provided a large amount of financial support when the Great Shrine was built was Elnea-kun’s family.”
“Wh-what!”
My father and mother had made offerings without me knowing!?
And a large sum of money, no less.
Even though my wallet only contains loose change.
“Your family receives money from the toll fees for the great bridge over the Shū River and as rewards for saving the country from dire situations.”
“Yes, I know that. But I leave the financial management to Mother and Karen-san, so I don’t really feel it.”
Furthermore, apparently, even a portion of the taxes collected in the Dragon King’s Capital comes into my possession.
“That’s right, Mistral! If we have a lot of money, can you increase my allowance?”
“No.”
“Sob sob…”
Let me tell you, the people of the Ys Family are on an allowance system.
That’s because if we let them spend money freely, certain twin princesses would waste it on alcohol and jewelry.
I also receive an allowance from Mistral periodically.
“Elnea-kun, if you have excess money, please could you make an offering for the temple construction?”
“Th-that’s right, Mistral?”
“When we return, I will discuss it with Mother-in-law and Karen-san.”
It seems that Madrine’s fundraising efforts might have found a solution before she even had to run around.
The atmosphere around everyone brightened with the smooth progress of future plans.
However, Mistral seemed to have some lingering thoughts about the recent incident.
“So, Elnea, about those dragonkin bandits.”
“Yes. I was planning to consult with you, Mistral, not just the King.”
Of course, we had also brought the bandit group with us.
Even after leaving Paradise, thanks to Alicia-chan’s continuous sleep spell, the dragonkin bandits remained comatose until we reached the royal capital.
However, we couldn’t keep them asleep forever.
“Dragonkin. Indeed, I want them to atone for their crimes as punishment for their banditry. However, I doubt that a prison facility prepared by humans can restrain dragonkin.”
The King’s opinion was valid.
There are prisons, but they are facilities for incarcerating humans.
If dragonkin were imprisoned there, their far greater strength than humans might allow them to easily escape.
Mistral herself had proven this in the past.
As another method, the idea of utilizing the equipment that had captured dragons was proposed.
Equipment that had restricted the freedom of dragons. Even dragonkin should not be able to resist it.
However, the King showed reluctance.
“Actually, based on Friel’s suggestion, we are proceeding with the disposal of such equipment. Of course, some still remain, but there is presumably no time to adapt them for dragonkin?”
If they were to escape or cause trouble while being re-equipped, it would be meaningless.
The King, having captured them but struggling with how to deal with them, seemed at a loss.
At that moment, Mistral made a suggestion.
“If you would allow it, could you entrust the punishment of the dragonkin to me?”
“I see. If it is you, Lord Mistral, who is of the same dragonkin race, then we can entrust it to you.”
And so, the dragonkin who had committed banditry on the plains were to be judged by Mistral.
The scene changed, and we moved to an open area near the prison facility.
My kin, the King, along with the Royal Guards, the Dragon Knight Order, and other officials and high-ranking individuals had gathered.
And besides the distinguished figures of the country, there were three men who looked outright evil.
One was a man with a bald head, contrasted by a thick black beard around his mouth.
Another was a muscular, imposing figure.
The last was a young man with a slender but well-built physique.
The three men had been in a deep sleep until just now, but as soon as Alicia-chan released the spell, they regained consciousness.
As the three men’s consciousness cleared, they looked around at the onlookers with suspicion.
At that moment, Mistral stepped forward.
“I am Princess Mistral.”
In Dragon Peak, there are no dragonkin who do not know Mistral.
Even if they have never seen her face, her reputation has spread far and wide.
A beautiful woman with near-golden blonde hair.
However, she must not be underestimated.
She is a rare dragonkin who has been granted the title of Dragon Princess, surpassing even the Dragon King, by the Guardian Dragon of the Dragon Forest.
“To think that I would encounter not only the Dragon King but also the Dragon Princess.”
The black-bearded man scowled.
The man seemed embarrassed among the three, perhaps recalling how he was easily defeated by the Water Spirit King while spouting boastful words at the springs.
However, the remaining two were different.
“I know nothing of this Dragon Princess. Long before such a young girl was born, I descended from Dragon Peak.”
“For me too, I only heard rumors after descending to the plains. I believe she only received the title a few years ago.”
It seems that the imposing man and the slender man had left Dragon Peak a long time ago.
But their pasts are irrelevant now.
“It is your prerogative to leave Dragon Peak. However, I cannot overlook dragonkin who commit evil deeds on the plains.”
Mistral glared at the three men with an unusually sharp gaze.
The three men glared back, but they did not show even a hint of fear towards Mistral.
“Dragon Princess, you might be mistaken. We have committed no crime.”
“That’s right. We were just doing business with dragons!”
“Or is it? Does this country’s law state that you cannot do business with dragons? If so, it means the country is breaking its own law! After all, the entire country is engaged in dragon hunting.”
It was true that they had been hunting dragons. However, the country acknowledged it as a past mistake and was trying to move forward on a new path.
Nevertheless, the officials gathered turned pale as the dragonkin hit a sore spot.
However, Mistral replied without hesitation.
“No, you are mistaken. As dragonkin, challenging dragons is a matter of honor. However, if you are causing unnecessary harm to those around you in doing so, I will not hesitate to say that it is wrong.”
That’s right.
It’s not about laws or anything; if you are causing harm and trouble to those around you, then it is indeed wrong.
“Also, if I may say so. It is shameful for dragonkin to boast in the plains after turning tail and fleeing from Dragon Peak?”
You dare, the three men bristled at Mistral’s words.
“Isn’t that right? You were afraid of Dragon Peak, where many dragons inhabit, so you targeted the few dragonkin living on the plains?”
Facing the three men who were now radiating anger, Mistral continued without mercy.
“If you have any objections to my words, then show me with your strength, as befits dragonkin. If you can defeat me, I will recognize you as noble warriors of the dragonkin. However, if the three of you together cannot defeat me, I will break your fangs.”
We had no time to ask what she meant by “fangs.”
We watched the exchange between Mistral and the three dragonkin.
“Someone, give these individuals their preferred weapons.”
At Mistral’s request, the weapons of the three dragonkin were returned.
The black-bearded man wielded an iron one-handed club. The imposing man had a massive war hammer. The slender man carried two thick-bladed axes.
Come to think of it, Old Man Sleigsta mentioned it before.
He said that recent dragonkin tend to rely on brute force.
The weapons of the three men also looked like instruments of brute force.
Mistral confirmed that the three had taken up their weapons and then drew her jet-black one-handed club.
Mistral also excels with bludgeoning weapons, but she never uses brute force. Her techniques and dragon arts are fitting for a Dragon Princess.
“I am Princess Mistral Ys, inheritor of the Meteor Dragon’s jewel.”
In response to Mistral’s declaration, the three also declared their names while releasing their dragon energy.
“I am Gared, incarnation of the Water Dragon. A warrior of water who trained vigorously in the waterfall where the Celestial Dragon ascends!”
“I am Gunnos, blessed by the Earth Dragon. A warrior who has drunk the blood of the Earth Dragon and annihilated wyverns.”
“I am Seagull, a warrior of wind born and raised in the village of Gashark, the Storm Dragon King.”
Now, let the match begin!
A match of three against one.
Nevertheless, it was a battle of pride, where all parties were satisfied and made their declarations.
The four moved without hesitation and with speed.
The back of the black-bearded man, Gared, bulged.
Could it be that he intended to transform and fight without water!?
A change occurred throughout the entire body of the imposing Gunnos.
His already towering physique seemed to swell by about one more size.
His limbs became abnormally thick, and sharp spikes grew from his hunched back.
However, Mistral was not one to overlook a transformation.
She gripped her jet-black one-handed club tightly in her right hand and kicked off the ground forcefully.
The one who stood in her way was Seagull, the slender man who specialized in wind dragon arts.
“Oh! I won’t let you interfere with these two. And I’ll make sure you don’t have the time to transform!”
He swung his twin axes with the lightness of small swords or something similar.
The fierce winds of dragon energy that rode the axes attacked Mistral as sharply as wyvern claws.
“One thing I’ll say. Gashark has already returned his title as Dragon King!”
“Wh-what!?”
That’s right. Storm Dragon King Gashark lost his dominant arm in his match against Zan. And, using that as a trigger, he returned his title as Dragon King.
To use another’s glory in one’s declaration without knowing this.
Zan is a warrior from Mistral’s village, you know!
Seagull, with eyes wide in astonishment, became the victim of Mistral’s horizontal swing of her jet-black one-handed club and was blown away.
Seagull, attacked from his side, rolled over with his arms and waist bent at impossible angles, and became motionless.
Gared, who was in the middle of transforming, was speechless at the unbelievable sight.
And before he had time to regain his senses, he was struck by Mistral’s second blow and embedded into the ground.
The small fins that had grown from his back twitched intermittently.
“You damned you!”
Gunnos, who had completed his transformation by sacrificing the other two, swung his terrifyingly thick arms and brought down his massive war hammer.
Mistral met it head-on with her jet-black one-handed club.
A fierce impact sound echoed, and a shockwave spread around.
However, Mistral, with just one hand, managed to defend against Gunnos’s fierce attack.
An attack launched with his full strength after transforming was easily parried by a woman who hadn’t even transformed.
Everyone was struck speechless by the shocking sight.
However, he was a warrior with the ability to transform. Gunnos, without changing his expression, swung his other arm down.
Mistral also extended her free left hand.
“Gaaaaaaah!”
It was Gunnos who screamed.
Mistral caught the descending fist with her palm and crushed Gunnos’s fist.
Then, she lifted Gunnos, who was more than twice her size, with one hand and slammed him forcefully onto the ground.
The ground beneath us, who had been watching with bated breath, shook violently.
Gunnos, like Gared, was sunk into the ground and writhing in agony.
H-horrifying.
Of course, I had no doubt that Mistral would win.
But to defeat three dragonkin warriors so easily without even transforming…
Mistral, who had demonstrated the overwhelming difference in power, quietly gazed at the downed three.
The slender Seagull was completely unconscious. In fact, his upper body was bent at such an odd angle that I worried if he was even alive.
The black-bearded Gared was still twitching. He also seemed to be unconscious.
Only the imposing Gunnos seemed to be conscious.
Crawling out of the sunken ground, he still directed his fighting spirit-filled eyes towards Mistral.
“I acknowledge your spirit. However, ultimately, you are simply losers. You fled from Dragon Peak and were defeated by me.”
“Gaaaah! I didn’t run. I… I!”
Just as Gunnos was trying to stand up.
A crimson shadow flashed in the sky.
Gunnos seemed to sense its presence instantaneously.
And then, showing a fear from the depths of his heart that he hadn’t shown when confronting Mistral, he trembled.
“Why is the Tyrant here!?”
Towards Gunnos, who was covered in despair, the crimson shadow that had flown from above, Revalia, descended.
It roared and landed on the ground fiercely.
Just before landing, Revalia caught Gunnos with its sharp claws and slammed him onto the ground.
“You who know of My past? Then, as My name suggests, I shall kill you with brutality.”
Revalia, with hellish flames burning in its throat, glared down at Gunnos with its four pupils.
That alone was enough.
It was impossible for those who knew Revalia as the “Tyrant” not to recognize its terror.
Gunnos, weeping and snotting pathetically under Revalia’s claws, begged for his life.
Mistral then approached the pathetic Gunnos and asked Revalia to retract its claws.
Revalia complied with Mistral’s request and retracted its claws, but Gunnos still trembled as if dominated by fear.
“You ran away. Revalia reigned in Dragon Peak. Having fled from there, no matter how bravely you act on the plains, you are still losers. But there are those who did not run. My husband, Elnea, faced Revalia head-on. And now, we are communicating with each other. If you have any pride left to declare yourselves as dragonkin warriors, I want you to keep your promise to me.”
Mistral said this quietly and returned her jet-black one-handed club to her waist.
Gunnos, still shedding tears and snot and trembling all over, nodded at Mistral’s words.
Surely, when the other two regain consciousness and hear from Gunnos, they will change their minds.
We, who had witnessed Mistral’s difficult battle of judging her own kin, welcomed and praised her.
